THE NICEST WAY TO START YOUR DAY!

Since I began the Happy Flower Day Project in May of 2013, thousands of residents of senior living facilities have been surprised by the gorgeous flowers donated by a specialty food market. I am so grateful to them for sharing so many beautiful bouquets. It has been so much fun for me!

More than 28,000 bouquets of fresh flowers have been delivered to surprise people in need of a smile! Moral of the story: Never underestimate the power of a bouquet of flowers for someone in a nursing home or even on the street! The heavenly fragrance, the beauty and the surprise of a gift of flowers has shown me that little things mean a lot. Remember how fabulous it was when someone gave you flowers? When you give a bouquet to someone who is not expecting them, expect joy, social interaction, laughter and happiness. By starting a Happy Flower Day in your community, you are beginning a project that makes a difference.

What People Are Saying

The day you brought flowers

was an awesome day for “the

birthday girl" – age 104″ and our whole community.

Thank you for the lovely flowers. We are so happy to have them to gracethe statues of Mary and Saint Anthony in our church.

Thank you very much for spreading your cheer and kindness with our residents here atNeshaminy Manor. The flowers brought such joy. It was a delight to watch the residents withtheir bouquets. It was a wonderful event and we are most grateful.

I just want to thank you for all of the beautiful bouquets that you gave us. It was so nice of you toget them, fix them up and bring them to each one of us. I heard that you bring them to shut-ins,too. The flowers bring a lot of joy and happiness. I had the bouquet that you gave me for a wholeweek. You are certainly doing God’s work bringing joy and beauty to all of us. Your flowers aregood medicine. Keep up the good work that you are doing to make others happy. God bless you.Thanks so much. Sending love and prayers.

I loved your story in the “Angels on Earth” magazine. I have always loved giving. When myhusband of 30 years passed away, I learned the benefits of giving at an even greater depth. Weare meant to give love and when we stop loving, it hurts us. When I give love it feels good. Tofill the gap of the love I had for him, I began expressing love to strangers and those who camealong my path. I love surprises! So I give surprises. I start looking for ways to give or surprisesomeone whenever I start to feel anxious or sad. Blessing someone else blesses me and helps me.I was widowed at 47 and I am now 61. Bless you, Patricia!

Trisha, a man and his wife brought flowers to us that were given to him by you. Weimmediately arranged them in vases. His wife used to volunteer here and his daughter-in- lawworks here. The weather was so cold outside today. These flowers sure warmed up the activityroom. They flowered-up the whole place.

The “Flower Lady” and I went out on Thursday to make her morning rounds. She goes toparticipating various stores and picks up donated day-old flowers, then takes them to the elderlyand infirmed around the area. We thought we were going to a nursing home but we decided to goto a vibrant senior community about to sit down to a special Thanksgiving celebration lunch! Wefound lovely people there. We distributed all the flowers we had on that trip to the people at theSalem Church senior group. This was one of three carloads of flowers that we distributed thatmorning. This is all out of the kindness of her heart and it is good for our hearts to support herwith this project.

Trisha, I am sending this to my assistant. She has the pictures of us standing outside by your carwith all the bouquets of flowers. She will send them over. The day you brought the flowers wasan awesome day for “the birthday girl – age 104″ and our whole community.

Patricia, you know those flowers you gave me two weeks ago, the last time you were here? Itrimmed the stems, put them in a vase, and put in the packet of flower preserver, you know thepowder that makes the flowers live longer. They were in my room for two weeks. I just threwthem away yesterday. They made me feel like a princess!

Patricia, I appreciate the gift of your “throw-away flowers.” I was wondering if we couldschedule a time to do it again. They brought big smiles to our residents and made their world alittle brighter. It is a shame to waste the beautiful bouquets if they can brighten someone’s daywith a colorful surprise. Each recipient had the thrill of feeling special for the day. Our chaplainwas wondering if she could talk to you about getting flowers for the patients she visits. Any helpyou could provide her would be great. You are welcome to stop here at any time with theflowers. You do not need permission to visit. You are not bringing just a bunch of flowers. Youare bringing a bunch of messages that somebody cares. Thank you!

I had the most unexpected and wonderful afternoon yesterday. My daughter and I attended amemorial service at Senior Living for all of the residents who had passed away over the lasttwelve months which included my mother. My longtime friend Trisha Gallagher brought fiftyplus bouquets that she picked up from a florist that we gave to the residents and staff. Thememorial service was beautiful. More touching was the joy and smiles of the residents and staffas we passed out the flowers. Thank you to Trisha and the flower donors. And a special thanks tothe Senior Living staff for such a special afternoon.

I was very inspired by your interview on the radio show a few weeks ago. I am very interested inthis project, because I want to bring this to my community, too. My husband is a Deacon, andhas been doing some communion calls at some assisted living places in the area. So I thoughtthis is a way to begin the project and to spread this idea, to the community and parishes, too. Toencourage outreach for Boston which is my area and surrounding towns. I would love to speak toyou sometime about how you got started, and how I can implement this project here.

Loved, loved, loved the article in the Chestnut Hill Local. I work for the Meals on Wheels and Iwould love to talk with you about what you do. And perhaps, if you ever need an “inspiration”for “God, who needs the gift of a beautiful bouquet today?”- We can provide an answer with thelovely hearts and souls that we serve meals to. So please give me a call, send a text or send mean email. Would love, love, love to speak with you! What a beautiful way to help us deliver ameal to some lovely people - so incredible if we can say it with flowers, too! Thanks for sharingyour story!

Thank you for giving me the idea to start a flower project in our senior community. The florist isstill leaving beautiful bags of flowers for me to pick up on the loading dock. I usually get aboutthree to four bags worth of flowers. It’s wonderful. We are doing flower arrangements withdifferent levels of care units, mostly on Mondays and Fridays. On Wednesdays, the flowers goout to our hospice patients in the community. It has been such a joy for all that get them. Willtalk soon. Hope all is well with you.

I would like to volunteer to help you. I am 91 years old. I used to play the harmonica. What doyou think of this idea? I could get it out and start practicing some patriotic tunes. Then, when youcarry the flowers into the nursing home, I can “announce” the visit by playing Yankee DoodleDandy, God Bless America, America the Beautiful, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, The Hallsof Montezuma, Stars and Stripes Forever and The Star-Spangled Banner. I am a little rusty onthose songs but if I practice, I should be able to do that within a few weeks. I might need to buyanother harmonica because this one does not seem to be quite right.

Oh, you are a blessing, Patricia, bringing all of these flowers. Gracious Lord, thank you for thisnice surprise tonight. My mother used to putter about or maybe I should say “potter about” sinceshe was always in the garden shed doing something with string, pots, and anything garden-y. Iam 96. My girlfriend here is 95. I moved here seven years ago when my wife died. I wish youcould meet my daughter. She lives in California. She is a writer too.

I am happy you came to Legacy Gardens last week. The residents remember your show andespecially your flowers that you brought. It was the HIGHLIGHT of their week. Thank you.On behalf of the staff, volunteers, and board of ActionAIDS, I want to sincerely thank “TheHappy Flower Day Project” for your donation of beautiful flowers to our AIDS Walk/Run Teamevent. This year, we had close to 180 people walk in unity with ActionAIDS!